JP3334183B2 - Protective cover for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protective cover for a new electronic device. More specifically, a protective cover in an electronic device for covering and protecting a concave portion formed in a housing of the electronic device or a device arranged in the housing, wherein a hinge portion between a cover portion and a mounting portion is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover for a novel electronic device that can extend the life and improve the appearance and the operational feeling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A protective cover in a conventional electronic device is shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show a protective cover for protecting an input / output pin jack of a video camera.

[0004] In the figure, a is a video camera, and b is its housing.

An oval concave portion c is formed on the side surface of the front end of the housing b, and input / output pin jacks d and d are arranged in the concave portion c.

A short rib e is protruded from the opening edge of the recess c, and a notch f is formed in the center of a portion of the rib e along one long edge.

[0007] g, g are bosses formed on the inner surface of the housing b at positions corresponding to the portions of the ribs e where the notches f are formed and spaced apart in the extending direction of the notches f.

Reference numeral h denotes a protective cover made of a synthetic resin having appropriate elasticity and flexibility. The protective cover and the mounting portion are integrally connected via a thin hinge portion.

Reference symbol i denotes a cover portion, and j denotes a plate-shaped main portion having substantially the same outer shape as that of the rib e.
A low outer peripheral wall k is formed on the peripheral edge of the rib e, and the dimensions of the outer peripheral wall k are formed to be substantially the same as the outer dimensions of the rib e.

Reference numerals 1 and 1 denote substantially cylindrical outer fitting portions, and the main portion j of the inner surface of the main portion j (the surface on the side from which the outer peripheral wall k projects).
Are protruded integrally from a position separated in the longitudinal direction.

M is a protruding piece projecting outward from a substantially central portion of one of the portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral wall k.

Reference numeral n denotes a substantially thick plate-shaped mounting portion, in which screw insertion holes o and o are formed. And the mounting portion n
Is bent so as to protrude in the plate thickness direction of the mounting portion n, and a protruding piece of a longitudinally extending portion of the edge of the one end p and the outer peripheral wall k of the cover portion i The central portion of the portion where m is not formed is integrally connected via a thin hinge portion q.

Then, the screws r, r inserted through the screw insertion holes o, o of the mounting portion n are screwed into bosses g, g formed on the inner surface of the housing b. h is attached to the housing b so as to open and close the recess c.

In this state, one end p of the mounting portion n is
Are located almost exactly within the notches f.

When the input / output pin jacks d and d are used, the cover i is opened as shown in FIG. 10, and when the input / output pin jacks d and d are not used, the cover is shown in FIG. Thus, the cover part i is closed, and the external fitting parts l, l are externally fitted to the input / output pin jacks d, d to protect them.

[0016]

As shown in FIG.
When the cover part i is opened, the hinge part q is displaced outward. If the rib e of the housing b is located here, the hinge part q hits the rib e and excessive stress is concentrated. Therefore, as described above, the notch f is formed therein so that the hinge q does not hit.

With such a notch f, the hinge portion q is exposed to the outside, and a white streak portion is formed in the hinge portion q by repeatedly opening and closing the cover portion i. There is a problem that the white streak portion is visible from the outside, which is not preferable in appearance.

If the cover part i is opened more than necessary (this may occur frequently), the part s of the cover part i on the hinge q side hits the housing b, and the part s With the fulcrum as a fulcrum, there is a problem that the cover portion i rotates so that the portion on the hinge portion q side moves away from the hinge portion q, excessive stress is concentrated on the hinge portion q, and the life of the hinge portion q is reduced.

[0019]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a protective cover for an electronic device according to the present invention is provided on a housing.
The mounting part for mounting and the cover part that covers the recess
Connected via a hinge part, the hinge part has a substantially U-shape
The substantially U-shaped elastic portion is connected to the mounting portion via the elastic portion.
Extending the distance between the hinge and the mounting part
It is made shrinkable .

[0020]

Therefore, the protective cover of the electronic device of the present invention has a substantially U-shape even if a force is applied to separate the cover from the hinge.
The resilient portion extends to relieve the force and relieves the load on the hinge portion, so that its life can be extended.

Further, since the substantially U-shaped elastic portion is provided, there is no need to provide a relief for the hinge portion, so that the hinge portion can be kept from being exposed to the outside, and the appearance is improved.

Further, since the substantially U-shaped elastic portion expands and contracts, even if there is a positional shift between the cover portion and the one covered by the cover portion, the cover portion is easily and uncomfortable for the operator. Can be followed without giving a good feeling of operation. In addition, this means that in the case where sealing is required, the elastic portion serves as a buffer, so that the cover can be easily set in a predetermined position, and good sealing can be obtained.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of a protective cover in an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to a protective cover for protecting an input / output pin jack of a video camera.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a video camera, and 2 denotes its housing.

An oval concave portion 3 is formed on a side surface of a front end portion of the housing 2, and input / output pin jacks 4, 4 are arranged in the concave portion 3.

A short rib 5 protrudes from an opening edge of the concave portion 3, and a central portion 6 of a portion along one long edge of the rib 5.
Notches 7, 7 are formed at two positions with respect to.

The notches 8, 8 are located on the inner surface of the housing 2 at positions corresponding to the side of the rib 5 where the notches 7, 7 are formed.
The bosses are formed so as to be separated from each other in the arrangement direction.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a protective cover, and each part described later is integrally formed of a synthetic resin having appropriate elasticity and flexibility.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a cover portion, and 11 denotes a plate-shaped main portion having an outer shape substantially the same as the outer shape of the rib 5, and a low outer peripheral wall 12 is formed on the periphery of the main portion 11. The dimensions of the outer peripheral wall 12 are substantially the same as the external dimensions of the rib 5.

Reference numerals 13 and 13 denote substantially cylindrical outer fitting portions, which protrude integrally from the inner surface of the main portion 11 (the surface on the side from which the outer peripheral wall 12 protrudes) in the longitudinal direction of the main portion 11. Has been established.

Numeral 14 denotes a protruding piece projecting outward from a substantially central portion of one of the portions of the outer peripheral wall 12 extending in the longitudinal direction.

Reference numerals 15 and 15 denote the same direction as the direction in which the outer peripheral wall 12 protrudes from the edge of the portion of the outer peripheral wall 12 extending in the longitudinal direction where the protruding piece 14 is not formed, which is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. This is a connecting portion slightly protruding from

Numeral 16 denotes a plate-shaped mounting portion which is long in the longitudinal direction of the main portion 11, and which is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and has a screw insertion hole 1.
7, 17 are formed.

Numerals 18, 18 are U-shaped elastic parts,
One end thereof is integrally connected to the longitudinal end of the mounting portion 16 in a direction in which the opening sides face each other.

A connecting portion 1 substantially similar to the connecting portions 15, 15 is provided on the other end of the elastic portions 18, 18 on the side opposite to the mounting portion 16.
9 and 19 are integrally protruded.

The connecting portions 15, 15 of the cover 10
And the connecting portions 19, 19 on the mounting portion 16 side are integrally connected via thin hinge portions 20, 20.

Thus, the mounting portion 16 is inserted into the recess 3, and the screws 21, 21 inserted through the screw insertion holes 17, 17 of the mounting portion 16 are screwed to the boss portions 8, 8 of the housing 2. ,
As a result, the mounting portion 16 is fixed to the housing 2, so that the protective cover 9 is attached so that the cover portion 10 can rotate with respect to the housing 2.

The means for fixing the mounting portion 16 to the housing 2 is not limited to screwing. A welding pin is set up from the housing 2 side, and the welding pin is inserted into the through holes 17, 17 of the mounting portion 16. It may be carried out by an appropriate means such as performing heat crimping after passing through.

When the input / output pin jacks 4 and 4 are not used, as shown in FIGS.
0 is covered on the concave portion 3, and the outer fitting portions 13, 13 are externally fitted to the input / output pin jacks 4, 4 in a light press-fit manner. At this time, the outer peripheral wall 12 of the cover portion 10 abuts against the rib 5 of the housing 2 in an abutting manner.

In this state, the connecting portion 15 of the cover 10
15 is located in the notches 7, 7 of the rib 5,
6 (hereinafter, referred to as a “blindfold”) between the connecting portions 15 and 15 is located at a portion between the connecting portions 15 and 15.
The inside of the concave portion 3 cannot be seen from a portion between 5 and 15.

The thin hinge portions 20 are located on the same or slightly inside the surface of the housing 2. Therefore,
The hinge portions 20, 20 having a white stripe shape are not visible from the outside.

The cover 10 is rotated from the open state to the state in which the cover 3 is covered, and the outer fitting portions 13 and 13 are rotated.
7, the insertion angle θ of the input / output pin jacks 4 and 4 into the external fitting portions 13 and 13 in the initial state of the external fitting operation is set as shown in FIG. The displacement of the elastic portions 18, 18 in the direction of arrow A is smaller than that without such elastic portions 18, 18, so that the force F required for external fitting is reduced, and the operational feeling is reduced. improves.

In addition, even when a force is applied between the cover portion 10 and the mounting portion 16 to separate them from each other, the elastic portions 18, 18 are bent so as to open between both ends, and are applied. It is possible to prevent the stress from being absorbed and excessive stress from being concentrated on the thin and low-strength hinge portions 20.

This is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
When the cover portion 10 is opened, when the cover portion 10 is excessively rotated and a force in a direction indicated by an arrow A, that is, a force acting between the cover portion 10 and the mounting portion 16 to separate them is applied. However, the same can be said, and the elastic portions 18 and 18 are bent so as to open between both ends, and absorb the applied force.
Excessive stress can be prevented from being concentrated on the thin and low strength hinge portions 20.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, the protective cover in the electronic device of the present invention is a protective cover in an electronic device for covering and protecting a device disposed in a concave portion of a housing of the electronic device with a cover portion . In the protective cover ,
The mounting part for mounting and the cover part that covers the recess
Connected via a hinge part, the hinge part has a substantially U-shape
The substantially U-shaped elastic portion is connected to the mounting portion via the elastic portion.
Extending the distance between the hinge and the mounting part
It is characterized in that it can be contracted .

Therefore, in the protective cover of the electronic device of the present invention, even if a force for separating the cover and the hinge is applied, at that time, the protective cover is substantially U-shaped.
The stretched elastic portion extends to relieve the force and relieves the load on the hinge portion, so that its life can be extended.

Further, since there is no need to provide a relief for the hinge portion due to the presence of the substantially U-shaped elastic portion, the hinge portion can be kept from being exposed to the outside, and the appearance is improved.

Further, since the substantially U-shaped elastic portion expands and contracts, even if there is a positional shift between the cover portion and the one covered by the cover portion, the cover portion can be easily and uncomfortable for the operator. Can be followed without giving a good feeling of operation. In addition, this means that in the case where sealing is required, the elastic portion serves as a buffer, so that the cover can be easily set in a predetermined position, and good sealing can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the protection cover of the input / output pin jack in the video camera. However, the scope of the present invention is limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to various protective covers in electronic devices, such as a protective cover that covers a battery storage recess.

In addition, the specific shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples for embodying the present invention. The scope is not to be construed as limiting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a video camera implementing a protective cover in an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part in an exploded manner.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which a cover is closed.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow IV in the state of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state where a cover is opened.

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrow VI in the state of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in which the cover is being closed.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of an example of a protective cover in a conventional electronic device in an exploded manner.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cover portion is closed in a protective cover in a conventional electronic device.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cover portion is opened in a protective cover in a conventional electronic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 2 Case 3 Concave part 4 What was arrange | positioned at the case 6 Blindfold part 9 Protective cover in an electronic device 10 Cover part 16 Attachment part 18 Elastic part which was substantially U-shaped 20 Hinge part

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device arranged in a recess of a housing of an electronic device
A cover for covering the concave portion with a mounting portion for mounting on a housing in a protective cover of an electronic device for covering and protecting the cover with a cover portion.
Are connected via a thin hinge part, and the hinge part is connected via a substantially U-shaped elastic part.
Part and the substantially U-shaped elastic part expands and contracts.
A protective cover in an electronic device , wherein a distance between a hinge part and a mounting part is made expandable . 2. A protective cover in an electronic device according to claim 1 in which the hinge portion is characterized by being located within the housing. Wherein said hinge portion is it at both ends of the cover portion
Protective cover in an electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that respectively provided. 4. The protective cover according to claim 3, wherein a blind portion protruding from the housing is formed at a position corresponding to a position between the two hinge portions.